Summer Camp Provides Teens With a Unique Look at Business
Young entrepreneurs are immersed in the competitive world of business at
 Commerce Bank's Annual Camp Business Program at C. W. Post

Future entrepreneurs will have a unique opportunity to develop their business savvy and ingenuity at an innovative summer business camp. Select high school students from Long Island will learn how to become leaders at "Camp Business: The Learning Journey," a free, exclusive, hands-on business camp sponsored by Commerce Bank and the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.

For two weeks, Camp Business students participate in various interactive courses taught and developed by professors at C.W. Post and instructors at Commerce University, Commerce Bank's corporate training center. While the camp has a special focus on entrepreneurship, a variety of management topics will also be covered, including problem solving, the utilization of technology, as well as leadership and team building in the workplace. The curriculum is designed to spark creativity, develop decision making and leadership skills, and reinforce that business can be fun, engaging and competitive. Student teams illustrate what they have learned in a winner-take-all business presentation to a panel of senior executives.

The Camp Business session will be held from August 14-24, 2006 with 50 students.

Curriculum highlights include:

• Tuesday, August 15, 9 a.m. – 12 noon
  Thinking Outside The Box– Teamwork is hard work and students will experience the true definition of teamwork by taking part in an exciting outdoor adventure. Students will learn that becoming part of a team means understanding your role and knowing how you can encourage others to succeed by letting go of "me first" approaches to success.
  
• Wednesday, August 16, 12 noon – 1:45 p.m.
  Product Development: The Hero Drill- Students become local inventors when they roll up their sleeves and create  "new" sandwich products and market them to a specific demographic group.
  
• Friday, August 18, 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
  Creating a Professional ImageandBusiness Etiquette
  The young entrepreneurs will discard their typical attire and don proper suits and ties as they practice their presentation skills and learn the importance of dress, speech, and a winning attitude. Students will also learn the do's and don'ts of business conduct.
  
• Tuesday, August 22, 9 a.m. – 12 noon        
  What You Need to Know (But They Never Tell You) About Managing
  Students learn unique, never talked about, management tools such as the importance of the "heads up" management practice. They will understand the role of food in building a successful team and gain insight in the human dynamics of managing people that goes beyond textbook theory.

Posted August 4, 2006